Some say Lone Star college bond not needed

Published 5:37 pm, Tuesday, April 23, 2013

The Lone Star College System's $497.7 million bond referendum set for May 11 is meeting with some resistance from residents who believe the bond is not necessary.

The bond features a number of new projects to be constructed throughout the LSCS without raising taxes.

Kyle Scott, who is seeking a seat on the LSCS board of trustees, said he has several reasons for his opposition, part of which involves a January report issued by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, which projected lower enrollment numbers between 2013 and 2018 than the college system forecasts.

Citing record growth during the last five years, LSCS officials said a 2012 demographic study projects student population would grow from nearly 78,000 to more than 100,000 by 2018.

The report issued by THECB said the student population would increase to about 82,000 students.

Dominic Chavez, spokesman for the agency, said those projections were based on historic college district enrollment figures between 2007 and 2011, as well as recent enrollment fluctuations at two campuses.

"The numbers flattened out at LSC-Tomball because of the large drop in enrollment (shifting students to University Park)," he said. "The majority of the flattening for the other institutions is probably because of the population projections flattening out."

Officials at the college district said the LSCS service area is expected to grow at a rate of 10 percent over the next five years, based on U.S. Census data and demographic projections by ESRI, an independent company specializing in demographic analyses. The key college age 20- to 34-year-old group is projected to increase by 8.1 percent by 2017, which translates into more students attending Lone Star College campuses.

Chancellor Richard Carpenter also said enrollment numbers and projections can differ dramatically from agency to agency, based upon the measurement purpose and methodology used, including projections done by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

"To make an accurate assessment of campus facility use, LSCS enrollment projections include all credit students and non-credit students who take classes on site," Carpenter said.

He said that THECB enrollment projections do not include non-credit workforce CTE students who attend classes on campus.

Scott said even if the LSCS is correct and their projected enrollment numbers are accurate, it still does not justify the need for more space.

"Between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday, there is not a full campus," he said. "There is a full campus at certain peak hours on certain campuses, but not for a full work day, six days a week."

Scott said the LSCS could better accommodate students by scheduling classes during other non-peak hours, as well as better utilizing an online format for students.

"While student enrollment numbers may go up, that doesn't necessarily mean that student population numbers go up," he said. Scott said he has spoken with instructors and students at various campuses throughout the LSCS, and believes enough people see the bond from his point of view.

"Most say, 'You're absolutely right. The campus is not full and we don't need it,' " he said.

"The ironic component of this bond proposal is that they plan on increasing class spaces without accounting for the need for more instructors. You can't teach classes without teachers."

Elizabeth Jensen, who also is seeking a seat on the board of trustees, is not supporting the bond referendum.

Jensen, who also cited the THECB figures, said she has approached district administrators about the real figures, and asked about how they arrived at the 110,000 students projected, but has not received a response.

"I asked how they got that number … I cannot support this bond initiative if they can't show me, and they've never shown me," Jensen said.

"I cannot support this bond when they have not justified their numbers."

"We've never had a system-wide decrease in year-to-year student enrollment in the 40-year history of this college system," said Carpenter.

For the bond

Some entities and individuals in the college system area have expressed their support for the bond.

Matt Clark, director of career technical education for the Magnolia Independent School District, said the Magnolia community would benefit from the addition of an education center, which is part of the proposal.

"It's my understanding that if a center is built, it will be very similar to the one in Conroe - a vocational and academic center - and if that is the case, then it will give the kids a head start to a two-year or four-year degree," he said.

"This will serve a huge need, in my opinion."

Clark said that a community education center is the right size for a community the size of Magnolia.

However, with the expansion of Texas 249 on the horizon, any future growth in Magnolia could usher in the need for a new campus.